Masquerade Read-Along Week Two Chapters 8-16

Hi guys! Today is week two of the read- along for Masquerade by Cambria Hebert.

About the book:

Before. Everything was so much better Before. I wasn’t haunted by nightmares, my place at school was secure and my face was flawless. Now, I’m a freak and everything has changed. The worst part is that I can’t remember the night I was sentenced to the shadows. The memory has been stolen from me and I just can’t shake the feeling that someone, something is out there -watching.

Just when I think I have my life handled, Sam, with his intimidating golden stare and shiver inducing voice, makes me realize that I don’t know anything. He makes me see that my scars don’t matter. That they never mattered. I can’t help but fall for him, completely unknowing that he knows exactly how I got this way. Not knowing he was involved.

***

Heven has no idea how closely death stalks her. She has no idea what I have done to keep her alive. I fear the day she learns my secrets, finds out what I really am. But even then I cannot stop, I vow to make things right. Finally her hunter will be hunted, Heaven and Hell, faith and sin will battle, and we will be victorious. But first, Heven must learn to be what she never imagined. I know her strength is there – I feel it. If we are to overcome all odds, she must push past her flaws – her frailties – to become much more.

1. Sam is admittedly drawn to Heven before they even meet. Why do think this is?I’m not sure about this yet, I guess it’s just a vibe he gets from her or something?

2. In an earlier chapter The Hope states that Sam must prove himself. During these chapters Sam does some things – bad things – (covering up murder, fighting, hiding a body, etc.) all to protect Heven and his true identity. Do you think he was right to do these things? I don’t really understand how it’s protecting her other then the fact it would scare Heven really bad and make her re-live her ‘incident’. So I guess I’m not quite sure yet if he’s doing the right thing by hiding it. However the police would just end up getting hurt themselves (or it’s likely anyway) so I guess he may be protecting more then just Heven in covering things up.

3. In chapter twelve Kimber says some thing’s to Heven that make the reader wonder about their friendship. Do you think there is any truth Kimber’s drunken confessions? If so where do you think Heven and Kimber’s friendship goes from here? I don’t know. I was so furious at Kimber and I think Kimber was speaking her true feelings. And my anger makes me want to tell Heven to just give Kimber the cold shoulder for awhile. But Kimber was there for her when no one else was (even though it was Heven’s fault for that as well). So I’m torn about what I think.

4. Heven is changing, becoming more confident. Do you think that after something like this (her accident and disfigurement) happens to someone that she can ever go back to the person she was before? Do you think she will want to? I think even if she gains her confidence back she’ll always remember how she felt and she’ll have more compassion towards people. So no, she’ll never be the person she was before, she’ll be a better person.

5. Toward the end of these set of chapters, Heven finds out Sam’s secret, who he really is. She has a strong reaction. Do you think you would react the same way? Why or why not? NO! I felt like she WAY overreacted! But he never should have ‘shown’ her. He should have told her and given her a little time before she saw him change. But I guess he got all the scary right out there right away.I think I would have known I could trust him and I would have waited to hear what he had to say. And if she hadn’t been so upset and listened better maybe he wouldn’t have been so fast to show her and if he had been still I wouldn’t have bolted like she did.

Prize Packs:

The giveaway will be open to all who participate in the read along each week. There will be a Grand Prize and a Runner up prize pack.

Grand Prize:A signed paperback copy of MasqueradeA PDF ARC of Charade (Heven and Hell #2)An Ecopy of Between (A Heven and Hell novella due out in April)Two signed BookmarksA Bubble Tea pack to include everything you need to make and enjoy your own bubble tea. (tea mix, colored tapioca pearls, fat straws and a drinking cup)Necklace with Masquerade mini book charm made by Southwest Sky Jewelry

Comments

Great answers. It is so much fun to see how we all perceive things so differently. I am pretty sure if my boyfriend turned into a scary hairy I would go way beyond how Heven reacted.Thanks for hosting. We need a linky by the way.

Great answers Candace!I noticed that the Linky for linking up is missing so I wanted to post a note to everyone that I have posted a LINKY on my blog on today’s read along post for everyone to link up!!

Also to grab next week’s question I have those posted on my blog as well for everyone to grab. They will be on the post and they are also on the Read Along Page at the menu on the top!

OMGosh, you’re right! He really should have told her first and then changed to prove it to her. I mean, one minute he’s a guy and the next he’s a really big hound with giant teeth. Like hello! Nightmare come to life. Although, she totally overreacted. Who jumps off a balcony? She should have trusted him more. Super odd.

And I agree, I think Heven is a better person now, after the accident. I think trials make us better people and I don’t think Heven would want to go back to who she was.

Although, I still think Kimber is a witch after her little confession. I liked her up until that point.

I thought Heven way overreacted to Sam’s confession/showing as well, she claimed to have such strong feelings for him and felt safe with him up until that point and then she freaks out and runs from him. I had trouble understanding that. I’m sure I would be shocked and it would take some time to let it sink in, but if he showed no aggression at all prior to the reveal, why should she fear him?

You know, the point you make in your answer to question #2 is a very good one! The police might have been endangered too, if Sam hadn’t hidden that body, because it might have helped them piece clues together. Interesting. I hadn’t thought of that.

As for Kimber, I really don’t like her much. She’s lucky if Heven still continues to consider her a friend. How could you ever trust a ‘friend’ like that again?

I guess I wish I could have taken Sam’s ‘revelation’ in stride, but I know I wouldn’t have been able to…it would have been a MAJOR shock for me! Lol.

I love reading how everyone perceives things. Yes, I agree about Kimber. I feel the same way. I like her but not after that. I think you are right about Sam’s reveal as well. Perhaps he should have eased into it and not right after she was attacked again.